Stress is a serious problem during the Holiday season. Research has shown that people are more likely to have a heart attack during this time. 

Stress starts to set in around December 13, it can escalate to extreme stress around December 18 and it reaches an all time high on Christmas day. 

How do we fight stress? 

1. Take a break during your day. 

2. Make time for "me time" 

3. Eat fresh fruit and/or veggies 

4. Get a good night's sleep 

5. Remember WHY we celebrate - Jesus, keep your heart centered

Helpful sleep tips from Revelation Wellness Blog, it also lists the natural sleep aids I mention in the podcast 

https://www.revelationwellness.org/2019/12/why-sleep-matters/

Sin is such an ugly word but today we are going to talk about it. 

We all deal with sin and shame but our mess ups and hang ups do not define us. 

It's time to stop identifying with sin. 

2 Corinthians 5:17, Colossians 3:9-11, Colossians 2:6-15

RevWell Faith then food and fitness challenge: https://www.revelationwellness.org/2014/10/31-days-weight-loss-gods-way/

Today I am joined by my mom Kellie Welch and she shares with us what it was like to lose her sister and best friend. 27 years ago, Dedra Green, died due to a misdiagnosed aneurysm. Kellie shares with us how she dealt with it and how God has continued to heal her over the years. 

Article from Christianity.com

https://www.christianity.com/christian-life/christmas/what-is-advent.html

Advent devo from Good Morning Girls 

https://womenlivingwell.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Advent-Ebook-revised.pdf

Shopping Extravaganza https://www.facebook.com/events/2485048728483027/

Denae Hula Designs https://www.facebook.com/DenaeHulaDesigns/

Hulagin's Woodworking https://www.facebook.com/hulaginsww/

Do you berate yourself and criticize yourself to the point of it making your life miserable? 

Let's overcome that negative self critic inside! 

1. Pray 2. Our weakness is an asset to God 3. Don't listen to the wrong voice 4. Watch your mouth 5. Practice being kind to yourself

Denae Hula Designs:  https://www.facebook.com/DenaeHulaDesigns/

Hulagin's Woodworking: https://www.facebook.com/hulaginsww/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beccadcaldwell/

Friends, if you are dealing with bitterness… it's time we get to the root of it. 

Hebrews 12:14-15

Bitterness and resentment keep us held captive to the hurt of our past. We cannot love freely and pursue our God given dreams, if we are constantly clinging to what happened and replaying our hurts and disappointments. 

Hebrews 12:1-2

So, now what… how do I cast off this weight and sin of bitterness and resentment?

1. Remember that God sees you, knows you and loves you.
   1. ask Him to heal the hurt and remove the bitterness
2. Remember God also sees the one who hurt you.
   1. ask God to heal the one who hurt you 
3. Remember we have all caused hurt to someone else
   1. extend the grace you would want extended to you 
4. Refuse to partner with bitterness
   1. Extend forgiveness even when you don't want to. And extend it as often as it is necessary
   2. Every time you are reminded of the hurt, I want you to thank God for healing you and moving you forward. Refocus your attention to the one who gives you the grace and strength to extend grace and forgiveness. Start praising God for destroying the root of bitterness in your life and giving you joy and peace!

Just because we can say and do whatever we want doesn't mean that we should. 

We should be less offensive and more considerate of those around us. Throwing off our selfishness and self centered mind set. Let's be those who really care and love those around us well. 

1 Corinthians 10:23-33

To be offended is to be resentful or annoyed as a result of a perceived insult.

Proverbs 19:11 Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.

Offense is self-focused thinking

To allow someone to offend you is giving them too much control over your life.

Offense is poison from the enemy.

How to overcome offense

1. Pray 

2. Pray for those who offended you 

3. Get your mind right, prepare to overlook the offense 

4. Practice

1. Pray for those with whom you disagree and for yourself.
2. Ask questions, don't assume you know their point or why they feel or think the way that they do. Gracious assumptions
3. Don't go in as hero vs villain, right vs wrong – this is not a fight, it's a discussion. If you do in with this mentality it will cause you to be offensive and attack or defensive in response
4. Try to understand and sympathize about why they think or believe the way that they do
5. Aim for love and truth, not your own victory
6. Persuade don't correct
   1. Never speak harshly to an older man,[a]but appeal to him respectfully as you would to your own father. Talk to younger men as you would to your own brothers. 2 Treat older women as you would your mother, and treat younger women with all purity as you would your own sisters. 1 Tim 5:1-2

Psalm 91:4-6

Pestilence is pesky, destruction and fear can't touch us when take refuge under the wings of our great God! 

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90 Day Challenge: https://thehollisco.com/pages/last-90-days